PLANS for a new sports hall at Ripon Grammar School have divided residents.

The scheme will be considered by North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee on Tuesday, when members will hear that the authority has received 38 letters of objection and 25 in support.

One of the supporting letters has been signed by six doctors at a local GP surgery, who say that it is important to encourage children to play sport.

The hall, which would be 39 metres long, will be built next to the tennis courts at the school, which is in Clotherholme Road.

It would replace part of an existing all-weather pitch and include badminton courts, netball pitches, two cricket nets and a climbing wall, as well as equipment storage and changing rooms.

The remainder of the all-weather pitch would be marked out in consultation with Sport England.

Objectors in the Kirkby Drive area claim the building would be too close to houses, cause loss of open space, light and mature trees and create noise and traffic.

They say an alternative site should be sought.

Harrogate Borough Council has also objected, claiming that the development would harm the setting of the school, a Grade II listed building, because it would be seen from the road.

Supporters maintain there is a need for sports facilities and a healthier lifestyle for pupils, while it would be safer for skateboarders on dark winter evenings.

Planning officers, who have recommended conditional approval, say the development has been designed to have minimal visual impact.

They add that opening hours could be governed by conditions to avoid additional noise and that landscaping would help to reduce the visual impact.

Traffic could be kept to a minimum by a green travel plan and the installation of ten additional cycle racks, they say.

The officers add: "The sports hall is a sufficient distance away from the nearest property's boundary in Kirkby Drive to avoid any unnecessary impact and heavy planting would take place at the back of the site to increase screening."